Tourism agencies’ sales to millennials see significant growth, most seeking trips abroad

Anca Alexe 23/08/2019 | 12:57

Millennials have turned into a significant consumer group in the tourism industry, having recorded a 12 percent increase over the past two months in the number of holidays and circuits purchased, according to travel agency J’Info Tours.

“More and more young people go to an agency to acquire complete packages for holidays and circuits, and about 80 percent of them seek a holiday abroad. The main reason why they are starting to address tourism advisors is the lack of time required to plan a holiday, which involves a lot of documentation, reservations and information that is sometimes difficult to manage. The agency also gains value in the eyes of travelers under 40 because a tourism counselor can advise you to choose the type of holiday that suits your lifestyle, can provide you with more information and, above all, can handle any inconveniences that may occur during the holiday and find the best solutions. Therefore, you are better protected if you go through an agency, because it is responsible for the services you’ve contracted,” said Carmen Pavel, the president of J’Info Tours.

Millennials prefer America and Africa

J’Info Tours found that about 80 percent of young people between 20 and 40 who get in touch with the agency prefer circuits on the American continent, with the United States being one of the destinations which has had an increase in the number of applications, by 18 percent in the last seven months compared to the similar period of 2018.

“Many young people want to see the iconic cities of the US: New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles and the beaches of Hawaii. Las Vegas is one of the destinations that continues to fascinate them, so they look for circuits that include the famous city of lights and casinos. The big surprise comes from South America, Mongolia and Ethiopia. While until now, over 70 percent of those who went on circuits in these places were over 60 years old at the time of booking, now there’s been a change in the profile of the tourist,” explains Carmen Pavel.

For the end of 2019 and 2020, about 45 percent of the bookings for places mentioned above have been from people younger than 40, who come from the big Romanian cities. They want to break away from the fast-paced daily life and go on holidays where they can enjoy nature and spectacular scenery. They book trips to learn about the ancient Mayan and Inca civilizations from South American countries, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Bolivia, or holidays providing a nomadic life experience, such as those in Mongolia.

Returning to travel agencies: a global trend

The increase in the number of those who no longer plan their holidays alone, but again resort to agencies can also be seen in other parts of the world, as is evident from the reports of tourism organizations in the UK or the USA.

According to the ABTA report (an association that brings together over 1,200 agencies in the United Kingdom) on tourism trends in 2019 (Travel Trends Report 2019), tourists are starting to call on agencies again, with 45 percent of them expressing confidence that professionals in the field can offer them holidays that suit their needs.

MMGY Global’s annual report (the largest in-house marketing agency in the tourism and hospitality industry), Portrait of American Travelers, published in July 2019, also reveals that 13 percent of holidays were booked through travel agencies, compared to 8 percent in 2018.

According to the same report, 19 percent of holiday consumers said they were planning to use the services offered by a travel agency in the next two years, compared to 16 percent in 2018.

Also, according to MMGY studies, 24 percent of millennials stated that, in the last year, they have taken a vacation through an agency, compared to those in the Baby Boomer generation (aged 55-75), of which only 12 percent used an agency, while those belonging to Generation X (40-54), only 10 percent of whom used the services of tourism professionals.

J’Info Tours was created in 1990 by Carmen and Aurel Pavel. In 2000, the agency became a partner of British HRG.

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